cancer. nightly news begins now. good evening, those who were hoping a different president obama would show up at last night's second presidential debate, they got their wish. in terms of energy, the dynamic between the two men, the tempo of the conversation, the body language, genuine flashes of anger, last night was very different, some said like a street fight between obama and romney. and while a lot of facts were thrown win the stage, a lot was said, there were enduring images and lines, like the romney quote, binders full of women, which took on its own life today. and here are numbers to consider as we get under way tonight. we're under 500 hours to go before this election, and so far, the campaign members have spent over a billion to get elected. think about what all that money could buy. back here, with the race, chuck todd and andrea mitchell, and chuck, a new day after a big event. >> you know, absolutely, if it was not clear to you before it should be now. the two men trying for office, don't really like each other very much. barack obama and mitt romney clashed in what could have been the worst and most difficult debates of the modern era. president obama and mitt romney picked up today where they left off during their argumentative debate last night. >> mitt romney is trying to sell you a sketchy deal, we are not buying it. we know better. >> when it comes to his policies and his answers and his agenda, he is pretty much running on fumes. >> reporter: the only thing missing today, the finger pointing and glares th s domin last. >> i am happy to answer the question. >> the oil prediction is down -- >> have you looked at your pension? mr. president have you looked at your pension? >> you know i don't look at it, it is not as big as yours. >> you will get your chance in a moment, i'm still speaking. >> reporter: and at times, the moderator, candy crowley, struggled to keep them in line. >> once -- >> because this is important. >> reporter: but the candidates engaged so intensely that the questioners appeared to take a back seat. mr. obama struggled when a questioner asked if he deserved re-election. >> there is no doubt about it, we've gone through four tough years, so the point is, the commitments i've made, i've kept. and the others, it is not for lack of trying, we'll get it done in a second term. >> i think you know better, i think you know the last four years have not been so good as the president survived. and i don't think you're confident it will be better. >> reporter: mr. romney's response to equal pay for women became a target today. >> in what new ways do you intend to help the situation in the work place? romney ignored the equal pay issue and talked about women in top jobs. but the words he chose lit up the social media. >> they brought us binders full of women. >> reporter: finally, appointed question to the president, on the attack that killed the american ambassador to libya, turned into a rough moment for mr. obama. >> who was it who denied enhanced security, and why? >> i am ultimately responsible for what is taking place there. >> it was very clear there was not a demonstration, this was an attack by terrorists. >> the day after the attack, governor, i stood in the rose garden. and i told the american people and the world that we are going to find out exactly what happened. that this was an act of terror. >> you said in the rose garden the day after the attack it was an act of terror. it was not a spontaneous demonstration is that what you're saying? >> please proceed, governor. >> i want to make sure we get it for the record, because it took 14 days before he admitted it was an act of terror. >> the moderator intervened. >> here is what he said days after the attack. >> no acts of terror will shake this great nation. >> reporter: but to mr. romney's point, the remarks earlier seemed to imply differently. >> would play politics or mislead, when we have lost four of our own, is offensive. >> now there is another debate on foreign policy, but they will share the stage before tomorrow night, one of the big traditions, theal smith dinner, the two of them will speak back-to-back. >> chuck todd here to start us off, chuck, boy it was chilly in that room, and now, the reaction to what we all saw on the stage. andrea mitchell was there and has been following opinions all day, today. >> and the opinions keep coming, indeed, we circled back to some of the questioners who watched from home, who thought the candidates argued too much and didn't answer what they were asked. >> the governor says. >> they had front row seats to history, but today, some of the undecided voters chosen to ask questions were not entirely happy with what they heard. >> reporter: susan katz got to question mitt romney. >> i know he is a very bright man, but i got the feeling that he likes to be in charge, and he doesn't necessarily allow for other people to express their points of views. >> what is the biggest difference between you and george w. bush? and how do you make a difference between yourself and george w. bush? >> thank you, i appreciate that question, i just want to make sure, i think i was supposed to get that last answer, but i want to point out -- >> i don't believe it, candy, i want to make sure the time keepers are working. >> romney did go on to explain he and george bush were different people with different policies, katz was put off by his manner. >> he took time to continue the debate on another issue before he addressed the question. that was his style last night. he seems to have to have the last word. that was disappointing. >> kathy fenton asked about equal pay for women. >> specifically with females making only 72% of what men make. >> reporter: romney's response was the comment about binders who went viral. we called them today about it. >> you know, i can't say i felt my question was answered by either candidate, explicitly. >> reporter: also, they didn't like the fighting. >> i did think the talk between them was a little aggressive, a little rude at times, so that is something i was not fond of. >> on both their parts? >> yes, they were equally rude. >> reporter: that was a shared opinion. >> it turned me off, they were like kids trying to get at one another. one-upsman, and it was ridiculous. >> how much did you cut them by? >> i -- >> some viewers simply did enjoy the event. >> there were times i thought there may be shoulder bumps or maybe shoving involved. but it was definitely entertaining television. >> that, it was. both campaigns today still arguing over the issues that they debated last night. but a lot of people watching the debate last night reactedmore to the style than the substance. >> as we said, it was chilly. here in new york city late today, federal authorities revealed they have arrested a man they say was plotting to blow up the new york city headquarters of the federal reserve. a big and obvious symbol of this nation's financial system. our justice correspondent, pete williams, has been working on this story from our d.c. news room. he is with us tonight with details, good evening. >> reporter: brian, the fbi says this plot was the idea of a 21-year-old college student from bangladesh. he was arrested after riding in a van that he thought carried a powerful bomb that agents say they assumed was one that would kill women and children. his target, the new york offices say, was a bank building, he was arrested later in federal court charged with attempting to try to set off the powerful bomb. he was identified as quazi nafis, and came to the country on a student visa, but intended to carry out a terror attack. by july, he was trying to recruit people, meeting one man several times in new york central park, but that man turned out to be an fbi informant. and from that moment on, quazi nafis was under surveillance. he wanted to target the new york stock exchange, but later decided to target the federal reserve bank. he wrote an article he hoped would be published by the jihadest website, saying targeting this would be the best path. last week, the informant bought a thousand pounds of what quazi nafis thought was fertilizer. this morning, they say, he drove the van into a bank and over and over dialled a cell phone number which he thought would set it off. federal agents believe that quazi nafis was acting entirely on his own, not working with a terrorist group. but they say he told one informant that he was inspired by al-qaeda and wanted to follow up with the president, but never followed up on that. >> pete williams in the d.c. room. and lance armstrong's fall from grace taking another big development with events with his cancer charity and big name sponsors. our report from ann thompson. >> reporter: though he has yet to admit to doping, lance armstrong will pay the price, stepping down from his charity promoting cancer work. one of the bracelets was worn by a man in this shop, who lost his grandmother to cancer. >> i don't support him as an athlete, i think he should come clean. >> reporter: the second blow came from nike, ending their contract with arm armstrong, saying there was insurmountable evidence that armstrong doped. others defended him in ads as recently as 2009. >> the critics say i'm arrogant, a doper. >> reporter: nike has stood by other athletes, tiger woods during remarks about his a adultery. and the yankees, alex rodriguez admitted using performance-enhancing drugs. but the report about armstrong last week was too much. >> it is almost like the sort of bullying or intimidation, that i think pushed it over the ledge, where people say even though this guy has a story that inspires, he is not going to associate with our brand anymore. >> reporter: at the headquarters in alwaustin, the ceo says the doping incident has been a distraction. >> we spent a lot more time than we hoped or ever dreamed we would be. but the fact of the matter, since august 23rd, we have served 16% more people with cancer. >> reporter: he says donations are up by a quarter of a million. >> i am a little tired of the whole thing. >> reporter: one spokesperson, which honored him in 2007 and partnered on a survivorship event, says the focus should be on beating cancer. in fact, nike and noi anheuser-busch, says they would continue to support. >> most importantly, it changed the way we looked at cancer, from a death sentence as to a disease we can survive. tonight, that is the challenge facing the livestrong charity. >> ann thompson, thank you for your reporting. still ahead, as we continue tonight, the news about multivitamins, including their potential role in preventing cancer. and later, making a difference, breaking barriers, sharing the gift of inspiration along the way. the financial obstacles military families face, we understand. at usaa, we know military life is different. we've been there. that's why every bit of financial advice we offer is geared specifically to current and former military members and their families. 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[ applause ] ♪ [ male announcer ] life brings obstacles. usaa brings advice. call or visit us online. we're ready to help. it is time for tonight's "making a difference report," and tonight, a trail blazer of a woman brought back a passion for classical music for the next generation, and perhaps gave children a chance for a future they never imagined. from los angeles, here is nbc's diana alvear with our "making a difference report". >> reporter: small fingering on their first violin. >> i was one of those children. >> reporter: the opening note. >> classical music, i just fell in love with it. >> reporter: she hopes this will grow into a lifelong passion. >> so magical and beautiful, and i love introducing it and putting it into the lives of children. >> reporter: once told there would never be a female conductor in her lifetime, she is the only latina who ever led one. now the orchestra is celebrating its 20th year. but she says the concerts that mean the most? are the solos in front of the spell bound children, part of the discovery that brings the classics to thousands of children every year in los angeles. >> like so many public schools, the music program here has been cut back highly in the last few years. for so many students, this provides their only exposure to classical music. >> reporter: and they don't just listen, they learn, through free violin lessons, lessons the children say give them a voice. >> sometimes you will get mad. you could show it on your violin. >> if you play a lot you get really good and you start to like it even more. >> if they hold the violin or instrument, they will never hold a gun or take a drug, because it will bring them so much beauty and fulfillment. >> reporter: the kind of fulfillment she hopes will inspire them that they can do anything. >> they inspires me, that when i grow up i can join an orchestra. >> reporter: with a little practice, and lots of passion. diana alvear, nbc news, washington. on that note, that is our broadcast tonight, thank you for joining us, i'm brian williams, we of course hope to see you bank here tomorrow evening. we leave you with a sure sign winter must be coming, the first day of the skating season on the rink we keep out back. good night from new york.